DR CONGO FLOODS WREAK HAVOC

The worst floods to hit the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 60 years have damaged the homes of about 500,000 people and killed 221. Many areas in 16 out of the country's 26 provinces are still under water two months after torrential rains in late December made the Congo River overflow. Authorities are concerned about the risk of malaria and typhoid in makeshift camps housing thousands of refugees.

Experts say the country's rapid deforestation is to blame for the floods. According to Global Forest Watch, the second-highest tree-cover loss in 2022 occurred in the DRC. Activities like illegal logging and Western-backed mineral extraction have caused some deforestation. Loss of forest canopy and root systems leads to more rainwater flowing into rivers.